Unhealthy coping mechanisms

I cant seem to break the cycle. I drink, smoke pot (legal) of smoke cigarillos. I'm sure there are others, but let's start there. I cycle through them. Give up one, pick up another. I seek a buzz or some type of emotional numbing. It feels good and then of course it doesnt. I'm hoping you can suggest positive habits to help replace negative ones. I am in therapy and take meds. I'm stable, but still I turn to these regularly. Any ideas?

While I've never tried alcohol-free beer, you could always try that instead of drinking alcoholic beer.

Smoking pot isn't always that bad, as it can improve bipolar symptoms in some cases and is sometimes considered a form of treatment for bipolar. Though, if you have a job and they don't like pot, I can see where you're coming from. (I don't know if it's legal or not to fire someone for medicinal pot, but that doesn't mean your employer can't make up a lie to fire you.)

As for smoking, vaping is much safer I think? You could try vaping to get off traditional cigarettes. You can also try breathing exercises, as my first therapist told me that part of the reason smoking is therapeutic is that it involves a type of slow breathing that calms you down. So that's why I'm guessing breathing exercises can help. But I've never smoked, so I wouldn't know. I'm just going off what my first therapist said. You could also try walking outdoors for fresh air.

Even though you say you're stable, are you actually stable if you're seeking emotional numbing? Why are you trying to numb yourself? If you can answer that question to yourself, then you can get started on ways to cope with whatever is stressing you out. For example, if you're numbing yourself because of stress, then breathing excercises (again) could help, as well as adult coloring (which, as silly as it may sound, is effective). Things like that.

And if you're looking for a buzz, why is that? Do you have little to no excitement in your life? If so, then you should try to treat yourself to little things to improve your happiness. For example, playing some sort of game, going to an amusement park if you've got kids, going on a date (if you're married, then do it with your husband/wife). Or you could go on a trip somewhere exciting if you have the money.

Here they wont provide prescriptions any more to bipolar people for risk of psychosis. I myself suffer from paranoia and I dont think pot makes it worse. I actually relax. My issue is more that I stuff my face on it. Lol.

Work is a non issue.

If anything right now the numbing comes down to 2 things. One is stress and I cant change the situation, I have to manage it. 2 is the fact that I cant save the world. My heart bleeds for people in my life that are struggling, but their situations are out of my hands. I've done all I can. Still hurts.

I live a good, active and busy life. I laugh till I cry regularly. So that's not a problem.

Thabk you for your response though. It's got me thinking!

Have you considered seeing a psychologist/therapist to learn healthier coping mechanisms?

Are you a bored drinker/smoker?


Do you have something to fill your time, something you can throw yourself at to get mind of things and help you channel your emotions?

I struggle too. I am actually doing well on the alcohol end but there are a few others I'm having a hard time breaking. I try to take it in bits. I write down the ways I'm going to meet those unhealthy strategies and work on a few at a time. It works sometimes but sometimes I slip up.